Justin McNulty’s Laois got their All-Ireland Championship back on track in impressive fashion this evening as they coasted to a comfortable victory over an outclassed Tipperary team at O’Moore Park. The home team dominated from first whistle until last, and played some eye-pleasing football with players like Darren Strong, Colm Begley and Ross Munnelly to the fore. MJ Tierney had been brought in from the cold after being left out of the Laois team that played Dublin, and he celebrated his return with the very first point of the match after just 25 seconds. He knocked over a ’45 a couple of minutes later, and then another man making his first Championship start of the season, Donie Kingston, justified his selection with a sweet point from the right wing that put Laois three to the good.

Barry Grogan slotted over a free to get Tipperary off the mark, but must of the traffic was still moving in the other direction and Laois eased into a four point lead thanks to smartly taken scores from Colm Begley and Brendan Quigley. Tipp were struggling to generate any sort of momentum and when Mulvihill knocked over his second free of the day, Laois promptly sailed down the field and stretched their lead further through points from Kingston (f) and the busy Ross Munnelly. Up to this point the Laois tandem of Padraig Clancy and Brendan Quigley had been completely on top in midfield, but as Tipperary’s partnership of George Hannigan and Seamus Grogan grew with the game, so did their team. Points from Johnny Cagney and Grogan (f) reduced the deficit to just three, and suddenly Laois were looking less sure of themselves.

But just when it seemed they were losing a grip on the game, Clancy claimed a high ball on the Tipp ’21 and hand-passed to the hard running Darren Strong who guided a well struck shot past Paul Fitzgerald. Tipp hit back with a Philip Austin point but Munnelly ensured Laois would take a six point advantage into the dressing-room when he curled over a beauty just before the half-time whistle. Tipp very nearly hauled themselves right back into it at the start of the second half when substitute Brian Coen slalomed through the Laois defence, but with just Eoin Culliton to beat he shot tamely. George Hannigan did better when he knocked over a fine point a couple of minutes later, but that would be as things would get for Tipp in the second half as Laois set about taking a firm grip on the game.

Points from Kingston, Strong, Munnelly and Tierney nipped the chance of a Tipperary comeback neatly in the bud, and then Laois killed off their opponents entirely when they scored their second goal of the match. The irrepressible Munnelly was the creator as he popped a perfect pass into the path of the charging Colm Begley who smashed an emphatic left-footed shot past Tipp ‘keeper Fitzgerald. That goal put Laois 2-12 to 0-7 ahead and sucked much of the life out of the game. Tipp were never going to engineer a comeback from this position, and Laois could afford to relax. Whenever Tipp did manager to string together a couple of scores, Laois simply put their foot on the gas again to maintain their advantage and in the final 15 minutes of the match coasted comfortably home.

Laois cantered to a facile 2-16 to 0-11 defeat of Tipperary at Portlaoise tonight. It was all too easy for the O’Moore County, who were best served in the scoring stakes by MJ Tierney (0-5) and Darren Strong (1-2) as they claimed a double-scores success. The winners – who led by 1-8 to 0-5 at the break – got the first three points from Tierney, with a brace – one after 25 seconds and the other from a 45 – and Donie Kingston before the impressive Barry Grogan replied in the seventh. John O’Loughlin and Colm Begley replied with Laois minors and Brian Mulvihill got Tipp’s second point. But for two good saves from Paul Fitzgerald, the visitors could have trailed by more than 0-5 to 0-2.

Kingston (free) and Ross Munnelly made it 0-7 to 0-2. Johnny Cagney and Grogan (free) scored for Tipp to close the gap to three and the Premier County also felt that they should have had a penalty, but there was nothing doing. Emo wing back Strong got the first goal for Laois to double their lead with half time approaching and Tipp’s point in retaliation looked too be too little: 1-7 to 0-5. Munnelly pointed to leave six in it at half time.

Grogan had a goal chance excellently saved by Laois custodian Culleton before George Hannigan pointed for Tipp. But Kingston, Strong and Munnelly were all on target for Laois before Brian Mulvihill closed the gap to 1-11 to 0-7 eleven minutes into the second half. Captain Begley added a second Laois goal after Tierney pointed. Hugh Coughlan replied with an eighth point for Tipp: 2-12 to 0-8 after 54 minutes. Tipp got three (Seamus Grogan, O’Loughlin and Barry Grogan) of the next four scores but they were long since out of contention in this game. Tierney and Strong added to the winning haul and Grogan replied with a Tipp brace as the Munster county bowed out.

Tipperary boss John Evans has made four changes – two of which are enforced – from the team that lost heavily to Kerry for tomorrow’s All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Laois at O’Moore Park. Paul Fitzgerald replaces Matthew O’Donnell in goal, while Stephen Hahessy starts instead of Conor Sweeney at left corner forward. O’Donnell and Sweeney have both gone to the US for the summer. Ciaran McGrath is introduced to the full back line in place of Paddy Codd while John Cagney comes into the attack with Seamus Grogan moving to midfield and Brian Jones making way. Dual player Sean Carey has been added to the substitutes list after being released from the Tipperary hurling squad this week.